MACLOSKIE I LOASACE^E. 585 



PASSIFLORA Linn. 



Flowers large, on jointed peduncles. Ovary stalked, the filaments 

 united around it, separate above ; anthers versatile. Fruit a berry. 



Species 250, chiefly in S. Amer., some in Asia and Austral., i in 

 Madagascar. 



P. CCERULEA Linn. 



Leaves glabrous, 5-partite, their lobes oblong, entire. Petioles 4- 

 glandular at the apex. Stipules falcate. Bracts ovate, entire. Crown 

 shorter than the calyx. 



(Brazil; Peru); N. Patagon., near Carmen de Patagones (escaped?). 



Family 73. LOASACE^:. 



Erect or climbing herbs or shrubs, often having stinging hairs, with 

 exstipulate leaves, and perfect, regular, 4 $-merous flowers, having calyx- 

 tiibe adnate to the ovary. Petals separate (sometimes 10), inserted on the 

 calyx-throat. Stamens mostly numerous, inserted with the petals, often 

 in clusters. Ovary 1(2 3)-celled, with 2-3 parietal placenta. Capsule 

 crowned by the persisting calyx-limb. Seeds mostly numerous ; with 

 scanty endosperm. 



Species 200, American, with a solitary exception. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



A. Staminodes none, or the outer stamens as filaments or petaloid. Petals mostly flat. Seeds 

 i-2-seriate on the 3, rarely 5, parietal placentas. Leaves usually alternate. 



I. Mentzelia, p. 586. 

 A2. Fertile and sterile stamens intermingled, the fertile antipetalous, the barren as nectary-scales, 



antisepalous. Petals cucullate. 

 b. Capsule opening apically, 3(~5)-lobed, mostly clavate or obconic, rarely twisted. Leaves 



opposite and alternate. 2. Loasa, p. 586. 



b2. Capsule opening apically by 3-lobes, cylindrical. Leaves 2-3-pinnatisect. Flowers 



sessile. (Gramma focarf us.) 3. Scyphanthus, p. 589. 



3. Capsule opening below, not apically, turbinate, often spirally twisted. Leaves opposite, 



decussate, with stinging hairs. 



c. Stem terete. Flowers usually cymose. Placentae broad or 3-parted. Capsule thin- 

 walled. 4. Cajophora, p. 589. 

 c2. Stem quadrangular. Flowers solitary on axillary peduncles. Placentae first fleshy, 

 afterwards dry and enlarged for disseminating the seed. 5. Blumenbachia, p. 590. 



